Isotope storage device



. 5, 1956 c. J. LAMMERS ISOTOPE STORAGE DEVICE SUBSTlTUTE FOR MISS l I Filed Jan. 18, 1963 INVENTOR C. JAY LAMMERS, deceased By LOLA M. LAMMERS, Administroirix BY ATTORNEY rM7////M .1 .IIIIL til . r te rates Eat-ens 3,259,748 Patented July 5, I966 3.259.748 ISOTOPE STORAGE DEVICE C. Jay Lammers, deceased late of Billings, Mont. by Lola M. Lammers. admmistratrix, 948 Lake Elmo Road, Billings, Mont.

Filed .Ian. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,461 1 Claim. (Cl. 250106) This invention relates generally to a storage device, and particularly to a storage device of a type which safely shields personnel from medical-type radioisotopes stored in a conventional electric refrigerator.

Many radioisotopes used for medical purposes must be kept at reduced temperatures because the isotopes are normally carried by protein, fat, or other materials which gradually degenerate at room temperature. It is normally not economically advisable to purchase a special refrigerator for each isotope laboratory in each hospital or clinic and, therefore, the isotopes are stored in conventional household type refrigerators which are inexpensive and readily available. As is well known, radioactive materials, including radio-isotopes for medical use. must be shielded for the protection of personnel work in the vicinity. For the most part, lead shields of substantial thickness have been found to be the only material suitable for this purpose. Prior to this invention the only storage facilities available to medical personnel were heavy, cumbersome, thick-walled lead buckets having heavy lead covers. Much difiiculty is encountered in handling such a bucket. especially in the confines of a refrigerated cabinet. Therefore, it is a principal objective of this invention to provide an isotope storage device which is very simple in construction and minimizes the use of lead via a tilting arrangement that results in a sufiicient thickness of lead being normposed between the isotopes and the area in which medical personnel are likely to frequent, and which can be readily tilted to a post .on of easy access.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a storage device which automatically assumes a safe position after an isotope has been removed. The invention provides an automatic interposing of a layer of lead between the front opening of the refrigerator and the isotope, and eliminates the danger of a test nician failing to recap a contai .er which contains an isotopic material.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a safe storage device for isotopic materials wh ch provides ready access to a plurality of storage cavities without requiring the removal of a heavy lid or the necessity of lifting an unusually heavy lead container from the confines of a cabinet. In general these Objectives are obtained by pivotally mounting several lead blocks about a horizontal axis near their respective vertical centers of gravity whereby they may be tilted with little physical effort.

These and other important objectives and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood upon a reading of the following specifications taken in view of the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in more particularity to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates a conventional refrigerated cabinet having a vertically hung door 12 attached thereto. The door 12 is adapted to close an opening 14 in a con entional manner. in most instances the refrigerated cabinet 10 is of conventional design and is of a household type having a plurality of adjustable shelves.

Adapted for reception within the refrigerated cabinet is a generally rectangular tray or frame 16 of wood or plastic. The frame is comprised of a front rail 18, a rear rail 20, and a pair of side rails 22 and 24. The top surface of side rail 22 is notched at 26, 28, and 30, and although not shown, an opposing set of notches are formed in the side rail 24. For purposes which will be apparent hereinafter, it should be noted that notch 26 is closer to front rail 18 than notch 39 is to the rear rail 20.

A plurality of supporting members 32, 34, and 36 extend between the side rails 22 and 24. Mounted on either end of each member are ivot rods 38, 40, and 42. Again, although not shown, an identical coaxial set of pivot rods extend from those sides of the support members adjacent rail 24, and are received in the previously mentioned notches of side rail 24. For purposes of this description it should be understood that a right side-elevation view of the invention would be identical to the left side-elevation of FIGURE 2. The pivot. rods can be driven into the support members or otherwise rigidly sccured thereto.

Respectively secured to the upper surfaces of each of the members 32, 34, and 36 are a plurality of lead shielding blocks 44, 46, and 48. The shielding locks are identical with one another and are secured to their respective support members via conventional means such as screws 50. The block members are each formed along their top surface with a plurality of container receiver cavities 52. Each cavity is adapted to receive a single isotope container C. The containers C are of standard design, and consist of a cylindrical body 54 having an enclosure 56. The isotopes are stored in the lower portion of each container and are indicated by the numerals 53. Therefore, when the containers are received within a cavity the isotopes are positioned within the lower portions 60 of each of the cavities 52 when the cans C are placed in the cavities.

Each of the blocks 44, .6, and 48 are so designed that the distances D between the interior of the cavities 52 and the outer surfaces of the block are of sufficient thickness to protect personnel in that area front any harmful rays emitted by the isotopic material.

As can be observed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blocks 44, 46, and 48 are juxtaposed in parallel nested relationship within the trays, and are tiltable from a first oblique position to a generally vertical position. The notch 26 is spaced at a distance from front rail 18 at a distance only slightly in excess of one-half the width of block 44, and the notch 42 is at a distance from rear wall 20 substantially the same as the width of the block 48. Since the densities of the blocks are considerable, there is a tendency to tilt about the axes of the pivot rods. Since rail 18 prevents a forward tilt, the blocks automatically assume the dotted line position of FIG. 2 with the rear side of block 48 resting on the top of rear rail 20, and each adjacent block resting rearwardly against the front wall of its neighbor. Note that the rear rail 20 maintains the blocks tilted as shown in FIGURE 2. At this inclined position, the ead fronts of the containers are interposed between the isotopes and the opening and there is no danger of the isotopes or the containers C' falling from their respecthc cavities 52. To insure positive tilting, the pins 38, 40, and 42 are placed slightly off-center toward the front of each of the blocks 44, 46, and 48. The off-center displacement is sutlicient to maintain the centers of gravities of each block to the rear of the axes of each respective pi ot rod even when the blocks are tilted forwardly the small amount permitted by space 49.

When in the rearward tilt position it is apparent that a sttflicient thickness of lead is interposed between the opening 14 and the isotopes 58. Also, it can be seen that the lead blocks may be easily tilted by hand to a vertical position where ready access can be had by a laboratory technician. It is a cradle arrangement which permits easy access in the vertical position and personnel protection when in the tilt position. In the event it is necessary to protect personnel in the rear of the relrig erated cabinet, a lcaden sheet 60 may be provided along the rear of the cabinet and a sheet 62 secured horizontally above the assembly without interfering with the access of the isotopes. In the normal installation the sheet 62 may rest on the adjustable shelf immediately above the assembly.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an efiective and efllcient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A devic for storing radioisotopes in a refrigerated cabinet having a front Opening comprising,

a rectangular supporting framework insertable through said opening,

said framework having a periphery defined of parallel side rails, a front rail and a rear rail,

3 first substantially solid lead block within said framework and adjacent said rear rail and at least one other lead block between said first block and said front rail,

each of said blocks having an outer surface defined by a bottom, side \valis and a top,

a plurality of cavities formed in each of the said top sides for the reception of cans containing radioisotopic materials, each of said cavities having a lower portion defined by an inner surface, said inner surface being spaced sufficiently from said outer surface to shield personnel in the vicinity of said device from isotopes contained in said cavities,

means pivotally supporting said first block for pivotal movement to a normal, stable position wherein said rear rail supports said block at an angle where the top side thereof is obliquely inclined away from said opening and to,

a second, vertical, unstable position wherein said top side is generally horizontal and easy access is had to said cavities from said opening,

second means pivotally supporting said other block to a normal, stable position wherein said first block supports said other block at an angle where the top thereof is obliquely inclined away from said opening and to a second, unstable position wherein the top side of said other block is generally horizontal and easy access is had to the cavities of said other block.

References cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 738,572 9/1903 Reid et a1. 2ll-8l 2,427,.ll8 9/1947 Liebson 20645 2,514,909 7/l950 Strickland 2SOlO5 2 912,591 11/1959 Cerrti 250-l06 RALPH G. NiLS ON, Primary Examiner.

I. W. LAWRENCE, Assistant Examiner. 

